How tiny blood vessels in the eye change in age-related macular degeneration
Molecular Studies of the Choriocapillaris in AMD
This project looks at changes in the eye's choriocapillaris and how a complement-related gene may drive damage in people with dry and wet age-related macular degeneration.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Iowa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Iowa City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11232376 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's view, researchers will compare cells from the choroid (the layer under the retina) in healthy eyes and eyes affected by dry (atrophic) and wet (neovascular) AMD. They will use single-cell RNA sequencing to read which genes are switched on in individual blood-vessel cells and focus on a gene linked to the complement immune pathway. The team will look for molecular signatures that mark damaged or activated choriocapillaris endothelial cells. Findings will help identify why these tiny vessels die or overgrow in AMD and point to ways to protect them.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be adults diagnosed with dry (atrophic) or wet (neovascular) AMD — and sometimes age-matched people without AMD — who are willing to provide clinical samples or share imaging and health information for research.
Not a fit: People without AMD or those seeking an immediate treatment are unlikely to receive direct clinical benefit from this basic/translational research in the short term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new molecular targets to protect or restore the eye's choriocapillaris and slow or prevent vision loss from AMD.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work has shown the choriocapillaris is involved in AMD and single-cell profiling has begun to reveal cell-type changes, but combining targeted complement-gene analysis with single-cell maps in AMD is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
Iowa City, United States
- University of Iowa — Iowa City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mullins, Robert Foster — University of Iowa
- Study coordinator: Mullins, Robert Foster
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.